| Country: | Philippines |
| Coat: | Short |
| Color: | Brindle, Black and Merle, (presence of white markings could be present and should not exceed 2/3 of the total body parts) |
| Life Span: | 13 to 15 years |
| Philippine Forest Dog | |
The Philippine Forest Dog, locally known as Aso Ng Gubat is an indigenous breed of primitive dog originating from the Philippines.[1] The Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) in collaboration with the Philippine Forest Dog Legacy Club, Inc. (PFDLC), is in the process of documenting and establishing the purity of the Philippine Forest Dog breed, hoping to be recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.[2]
The Philippine Forest Dog could have been around for approximately 30,000 years.[3] Early settlers are thought to have brought the ancestors of this breed to the Philippines as companions and hunting dogs.[4] The dog has been living with indigenous Aetas, even before the Spanish colonization of the country.[5]
The Philippine Forest Dog is a small to medium-sized dog and for a long time was used as hunting dogs for wild animals, vermin catching and farm mates by the Filipinos. Such characteristics and morphological build up is maintained and is now the main objective in selective breeding. The Philippine Forest Dog (PFD) standard requires a vigorous, agile and athletic dog fit to perform as functional dog in the forest. As a primitive dog, PFD's are capable of surviving both the difficult climate and terrain conditions of its land of origin. [6]
The Philippine Forest Dog (PFD) breed standard and interpretation followed by Philippine Canine Club Inc. (PCCI) is written by Rev. Fr. Dante Daylusan, Philippine Forest Dog (PFD) Researcher and breeder. It took 30 years of continuous studies and research based on the guidelines given by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) .
To guarantee that the said standard will be followed strictly, the Philippine Forest Dog Legacy Club, Inc. (PFDLC) founded and recognized 6 official Integrity Breeders focusing to maintain the morphological construction of the breeding stocks, temperament and right coloration as fundamental elements in selective breeding. For this reason it is essential that PFD fanciers and future owners should be decisive in the selection of their dogs taking it from official and integrity breeders endorsed by the club or will take the risk of having a mix breed or a mongrel brindle colored dog.
As a primitive dog, the Philippine Forest Dog is very diffident to strangers but particularly reliable even with children belonging to his human family. Although a domestic dog, they have a very high survival instinct even when left alone in the forest.[7] This breed could show a very high protective temperament that they are selected as guard dogs despite their size.